Turkish airstrikes against Kurds in Syria

This House notes with concern the intensive Turkish air assault that has hit Kurdish majority towns across north and northeast Syria which began at midnight on 19 November 2022, reportedly having killed 13 civilians and injuring many others; further notes that basic civilian infrastructure was being targeted in those strikes; notes that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have both strongly condemned the attack; is deeply concerned that the Turkish Government has allocated responsibility for the attack to the PKK and the SDF; notes that the Turkish Government has frequently asserted a policy of seeking to control a band of Syrian territory adjacent to the Syria-Turkey border; notes that the US State Department stated that it was communicating with Ankara publicly and privately to stop those attacks; calls on the Foreign Secretary to make representations to counterparts in the Turkish Government with a view to immediately ceasing the airstrikes which are in breach of international law; and further calls on the Government to call publicly for an immediate cessation of such airstrikes.